[aw-dee-uh
ns]
ns]–noun
1.
the group of spectators at a public event; listeners orviewers collectively, as in attendance at a theater orconcert: The audience was respectful of the speaker'sopinion.
2.
the persons reached by a book, radio or television broadcast,etc.; public: Some works of music have a wide and variedaudience.
3.
a regular public that manifests interest, support, enthusiasm,or the like; a following: Every art formhas its audience.
4.
opportunity to be heard; chance to speak to or before aperson or group; a hearing.
5.
a formal interview with a sovereign, high officer ofgovernment, or other high-ranking person: an audience withthe pope.
6.
the act of hearing, or attending to, words or sounds.
Origin:
—Related forms
pro·au·di·ence, adjective
—Usage note See collective noun.
DICTIONARY DEFINITION - dictionary.com
By understanding your audience you can target your work to suit them so they are more likely to respond, thus making sure that your work is more effective at communicating the message for instance, you wouldn't present a naked man to advertise thereaders digest, as that isn't the correct audience, and at the opposite end of the scale you wouldn't picture an overweight hairy man to illustrate the latest weightless product for women.
It really is a matter of common sense.
Before any brief is tackled a target audience must be set:
Gender (Male, Female, other)
Age (Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Elderly)
Martial Status
Ethnicity
Sexuality
Disability (Mentally or physical handicaps, blind, deaf etc..)
Profession
Religion
Social Status
And the list goes on.
This must be correctly established prior to any piece of work, because if the audience doesn't understand the work it will be unsuccessful, whether or not they like or approve of the work is a matter of opinion, no matter how hard somebody works you cannot please everybody, but by simply establishing who your work is aimed at, the communication aspect of you work is already on top form.
ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE
Cock, 1985
Cock, 1985
Mapplethorpe's work is very artistic and would be aimed at like minded people, and would not be aimed at the prude or easily offend.
Due to the homosexual nature of alot of his work it has stirred up a far bit of controversy.
Target Audience = Gay Men, very obvious example of perfect target marketing.
Another very good example of Sky Blues very clear target audience = Gay Men
This in my opinion is the clearest and most effective example of perfect placement of a target audience, using the gay flag and with the use of the gay pride wording.
This is another fantastic example of a correct target audience, this Chanel advert looks very expensive, Directed by Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge, Clearly aimed at middle aged women who aspire to Nicole Kidman.
Aimed at guys who aspire to look as good as the model portrayed, Josh Beech, who is also a familiar face in menswear advertising
